Housebreaking a puppy or dog can seem a daunting task.  You may feel it’s breaking your spirit, while you’re trying not to let it break your puppy’s spirit.  In the meantime, your carpets and flooring are suffering the effects of accident after accident.

Don’t give up!  Dig deep and find the right attitude of love and patience within yourself.  Start and proceed with consistency.  Dogs and puppies learn from repeating behaviors, until what they‘re learning becomes second nature.  When you train with gentle consistency, your dog will learn faster and have more self-confidence.

You’re not going to be able to supervise your puppy all the time; it’s not realistic to think that.  There are several time-honored methods of housetraining a puppy.  He will learn the rules and it will be kind to your spirit at the same time.  One popular method is using puppy pads or newspapers, while many other people prefer crate training.

Puppy Papers

There are special potty pads which are treated with a scent to attract a puppy that needs to go potty.  (Newspapers work for this, too, although the pads are more absorbent.)  Place the potty pads around the house in areas your puppy frequents, especially any place previously used for elimination.

Watch your pet, and when the pup starts circling and sniffing (showing he’s getting ready to potty), gently place him on a pad.  As he does as he should on the pad, repeat the word you want him to associate with going potty.  It can be as simple as potty or poo or ’business’ – the choice is yours.  By teaching this, when you are outside with your dog you can say this word and it will cue him to do his thing.

When your pup consistently uses the pads, it’s time to start moving them closer to the door.  Once you’ve reached the door, move on outside and eventually to the area you want your dog to use for elimination.  Soon you won’t need the pads at all.  Your dog will know to go first to the door, and once outside, to the area where you want him to do his ‘business‘.

Crate Adventures

A puppy learns to think of a crate as a safe place.  Many go there when the rest of the household is stressing them.  This is a safe place for your pup when you’re not able to supervise his activities, including his potty activities.  He will consider the crate his bed, and a dog doesn’t potty in his own bed.

Be sure to take your pup outside before placing him in the crate and again as soon as you let him out.  If he doesn’t go when you take him out after he’s been in the crate for an hour, put him back for another hour and try again.  Repeat this process until he finally goes potty when you take him outside.

Don’t leave any food or water in his crate.  He’ll be just as happy with a nice dry blanket and several toys.

Final Thoughts

No matter what method you use, consistency is the key to housebreaking your puppy.  Use the same verbal message such as “outside” or “wanna go?” to communicate with your pup that it’s time to go outside and potty.  You may wish to use a different word or phrase when outside to cue him it’s actually time to ‘go.’  After he’s successfully completed the mission, give him praise to let him know he did what was wanted.

Don’t punish your puppy for making a potty mess.  Instead, when he uses the area you want, praise him.  Positive reinforcement is a far better training tool than punishment.  They learn consistency when you’re consistent, and self-confidence from positive reinforcement through praise – and this helps with all aspects of training.